'Malcolm! Malcolm, for god's sake get out here!' Lois screamed from the driveway. The rest of the family was already sitting in the car, Hal at the wheel. Malcolm slammed the door as he ran out of it. He piled into the back with Dewey and Reese.

'Why did we have to get an exchange student, Mom?' Reese asked, pressed against one side of the car.

'Because hopefully they will be a good influence on you boys, and it will be an experience you'll never forget.' Lois answered quickly, as if she had it planned.

'Right.' Reese rolled his eyes.

'Mom's right, Reese. He's from Australia – it could be interesting. You don't know anything about Australia, do you, Reese?' Malcolm asked, imperatively. Of course, he knew some things about the country, being the genius he was.

'I know they have koala bears!' Dewey exclaimed, proudly.

'Very smart, Dewey!' Malcolm rolled his eyes. That had to be the most obvious fact.

'And they've got the Crocodile Man!' Reese piped in, pretending to wrestle 'crocodile Dewey'.

Great, thought Malcolm, this is going to be a long drive.

'Alright. QANTAS flight 423 from Sydney. Gate 9.' Hal looked at the piece of paper that had all the information on it. The details of the exchange student's flight were written in bold red writing, so they wouldn't get confused and miss their arrival.

'What's his name again?' Reese asked, gazing around the airport.

'Ashley Downe.' Lois replied, looking at the paper over Hal's shoulder.

'Oh. Right.' Reese said absentmindedly, more interested in the people of the airport.

'Over here.' Malcolm pointed to gate 9.

'Good. We're just in time. They're getting out right now.' Lois pulled out a sign that had 'ASHLEY DOWNE' written in bold, large letters. They watched people steadily flow out from the gate and waited anxiously for Ashley. Distracted, they almost didn't notice a young girl, about 13, appear in front of them.

'Hi.' She smiled, her eyes covered by white-framed sunglasses.

'Can I help you?' Malcolm asked, still looking around.

'Well, uh, I think so. I'm Ashley.' She pushed up the sunglasses. Malcolm stared blankly at her.

'Ashley Downe. My name's on your sign.' She pointed to the cardboard. Malcolm tugged on his mom's sleeve and pointed at Ashley.

'She's… him!' He gasped.

'Him?' Ashley asked, shifting her carry bag from side to side. Lois was now staring.

'Oh. We thought… we thought you were a… boy.' Lois said simply. Reese, Hal and Dewey stared at her, jaws gaping.

'Oh. Right. Well, sorry to disappoint you, but I'm not. Ashley is a girls' name, too. You are the Wilkerson's – right?' Ashley asked, her Australian accent strong.

'Yes. Well, then. Hello, Ashley. I'm Hal.' Hal shook her hand. Then Lois shook her hand. Then Dewey. Then Reese.

And finally, Malcolm.

'Uh. Hi. I'm Malcolm.' He mumbled almost incoherently. Of course, he had been so stupid. Ashley was a girls' name too.

'Hi Malcolm. Uh, I'm Ashley. Obviously.' Ashley smiled.

'Obviously.' Malcolm repeated, but not in a mocking way.

'Malcolm – help Ashley with her bag, will you?' Lois handed a heavy suitcase to Malcolm and he accepted it, still stunned by the fact that a girl would be spending two months with them.